Austria: Bombardier Transportation of Canada has signed an agreement to purchase a 26% stake in ELIN EBG Traction GmbH, subject to regulatory approval. Initial co-operation will concentrate on development of regional trainsets derived from the Talent concept (p245).
China: Leighton Contractors (Asia) Ltd of Hong Kong and RSA of Australia have formed an alliance to bid for rail-related construction projects.
France: MAN of Germany has increased its stake in diesel engine manufacturer SEMT Pielstick to 66·6%. The remaining shares are owned by MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH.
Citing a fall in orders from SNCF and RATP, ANF-Industrie has presented employee representatives with a plan to cut 213 of the 1231 jobs at its Crespin plant near Valenciennes.
Great Britain: The shareholders of Wessex Traincare (Holdings) Ltd have accepted an offer from GEC Alsthom to purchase the Eastleigh-based train maintenance and overhaul business.
Following regulatory approval, Caterpillar Inc of the USA has acquired the assets of diesel engine manufacturer Perkins Ltd from LucasVarity plc. The assets include facilities at Peterborough, Stafford and Shrewsbury.
Westinghouse Signals has achieved ISO14001 certification for environmental management systems. Under its environmental policy, the company has reduced gas consumption by 10%, identified recycling routes for packaging and provided environmental awareness training for all employees.
Poland: H Cegielski and Siemens are to form a joint venture for rolling stock production. The partners hope to sign a formal agreement by the end of this year.
The Greenbrier Companies of the USA is to acquire a 60% shareholding in Fabryka Wagonów Swidnica SA and invest US$8m in the company. Greebrier expects that 50% of the 1200 to 1700 wagons produced over the next 12 months will be for export to Germany, Great Britain, Russia and Switzerland.
Romania: The State Ownership Fund has sold a 51·7% stake in Apcarom Buzau to VAE Aktiengesellschaft of Austria. Investment in production equipment at VAE Apcarom SA will total US$2·5m this year.
Spain: Patentes Talgo has been granted ISO9002 certification for its locomotive and passenger coach maintenance facilities at Aravaca and Las Matas outside Madrid, as well as for the Sant Andreu workshop in Barcelona.
South Africa: Coreval Investments, comprising investors in Great Britain, Hong Kong and South Africa, is expected to take control of Union Carriage & Wagon on July 1. The rolling stock builder was sold by Murray & Roberts last year.
Ukraine: The State Property Fund was due on March 24 to announce the successful bidder for a 51% stake in locomotive manufacturer Luganskteplovoz, with the reserve price set at Hr38·5m. The purchaser will be required to invest Hr80m to upgrade the plant.
USA: MotivePower Industries Inc and the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors have signed a strategic alliance granting MPI subsidiary Boise Locomotive Co the exclusive right to manufacture EMD 1500 and 2000hp locomotives for customers in North America. Boise will continue to sell other locos up to 4000hp under its own name.
